PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a 30 percent initial disability rating, effective from May 22, 2007. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not reopened.

The Veteran's PTSD is manifested by symptoms such as sleep disturbance, panic attacks, and depression. The Board has determined that a 50% rating for PTSD is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA psychiatric examination and consideration of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD was not manifested by an occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from August 22, 2007 to November 7, 2007. Therefore, the claim for a higher evaluation is denied.

The Board granted the Veteran's service connection for PTSD and assigned a 30 percent disability rating, effective June 8, 2007. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was withdrawn by the Veteran. Service connection was established for a low back disability due to in-service injury during combat in Korea.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD. The Veteran's new evidence includes VA treatment notes showing a diagnosis of PTSD related to traumatic events in service and statements by the Veteran describing his alleged in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied because the services were not rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's PTSD has been characterized as 'mild' for the initial rating period prior to November 27, 2009. The symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the service-connected PTSD and any associated psychiatric disabilities, as well as an opinion on whether the Veteran's disability prevents him from obtaining or keeping gainful employment. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD has not been manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied as he did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD due to the death of his fellow serviceman occurring three days after he left Panama.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, that is service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and for a TDIU rating due to lack of evidence supporting his claimed stressors and inability to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of a diagnosis, while his claim for cold weather residuals was granted based on the examiner's findings.,Service connection is established for frostbite residuals of the hands and feet, but not for PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD warrants a 50 percent evaluation, which is the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 9411. The evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for schizophrenia and PTSD, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The acquired psychiatric disorders were not shown to have developed as a result of an established event or injury during active duty.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA psychiatric examination and providing notification to the Veteran about what evidence is needed to substantiate his claim. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, paranoid-type schizophrenia, and active psychosis. However, no new evidence has been provided to establish a service-related stressor for PTSD or to link any of these conditions to service.